Des Moines downtown post office, 1165 Second Avenue

Postal workers in Des Moines will protest ongoing cuts to the agency this week.

Local employees of the United States Postal Service will join a series of national protests as they picket outside the downtown post office, 1165 Second Avenue, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Union officials say management has already eliminated 36 of approximately 300 jobs at the main Des Moines post office with plans to cut another 34 jobs —a total reduction of more than 20 percent.

“When we see poor service or delayed service, that’s when our members really get upset,” Mike Bates, president of Des Moines Area APWU Local 44, said in a news release. “Nationwide, postal management is cutting jobs and realigning the workforce, which is causing disruptions to workers’ lives.”

His statement continued: “Despite these cuts, management wants to hire 250 temporary workers for the holiday season to deliver holiday mail on time, but our goal is first class service 24/7, 365 days a year. Postal workers dedicate their lives to serving the American public.”

USPS Spokeswoman Stacy St. John told the Des Moines Register that “we are not talking about layoffs.”

She said the postal service is self-funded and pays for its operations through the sale of its products and services.

“We are a responsible employer that prudently matches our workforce to an evolving workload and adjusts staffing continuously,” she said. “This year to date, despite growth in the package segment of our business, overall volume has declined by over 3 billion pieces. That changes our revenue and our work, and we are therefore adjusting employee staffing and scheduling.”

St. John said the post office is realigning work hours, locations and job titles as allowed within collective bargaining agreements. Still, she said the organization is “committed to providing first-class service” in Des Moines and across the country.

Source: Des Moines Register